Shiraz Auto Expo, one of the most important automotive shows in the country, is being held from July 12 to 15 in the southern Iranian city.
Iran Khodro has a significant presence at the expo, showcasing Peugeot 208, 2008, 301 and 207i models and also Dongfeng Fengshen H30 Cross[over] models.
The H30 Cross is attracting a great deal of attention. It has its roots in the first-generation Citroen Elysee produced by Dongfeng-PSA. The vehicle has been previously pegged by an Iran Khodro official at around 400 million rials, Persian Khodro reported.
Bahman Group is also attending the event with the FAW Besturn B70 large sedan model, though it has not announced any price for this model yet.
Bam Khodro is exhibiting Geely GC6 sedan and might showcase the Geely NL-3 compact SUV (similar to the Range Rover Evoque).
The BYD S6 is the flagship product of Karmania Auto at the expo. With its Mitsubishi-sourced engines, BYD S6 gives buyers a choice of three power plants and three transmissions, which are some of the perks Iranian SUV buyers seek.
Kerman Motors is there with JAC and Lifan models at their booth. The company might also unveil Lifan X60, a new four-door compact crossover that may be widely popular with Iran's car buyers.
In addition, the Chery Arrizo 5 sedan (Hyundai Elantra-style) made by Modiran Khodro (MVM) is also on show, according to reports.
The Arrizo 5 features a trendy and dynamic design, five-star safety configurations, substantial power maneuverability, quiet and large space as well as smart technology configurations.
With a population of 80 million and 1.1 million cars sold in 2014, one might argue that Iran is the Middle East's biggest auto market and has potential for rapid growth.
The lifting of international sanctions has opened the way for investment and foreign carmakers hope to gain a firm foothold in the country's booming automobile sector.
Chinese car companies have the first-mover advantage, but they are going to face competition from German, French, South Korean and Japanese manufacturers.
